Gunnel mount

ABSTRACT

A gunnel mount for a watercraft includes a base portion configured to be detachably mounted to a gunnel of a watercraft, and a top portion extending from the base portion. The top portion is configured to support at least one watercraft accessory or piece of equipment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/850,423, filed 20 May 2020 and entitled GUNNEL MOUNT, the disclosure of which is incorporated, in its entirety, by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to attachment devices for watercraft, and more particularly relates to devices for attachment to a gunnel portion of a watercraft, the devices providing a structure to mount other objects (e.g., equipment and accessories) to the watercraft.

BACKGROUND

Watercraft are often used for a variety of purposes. For example, watercraft may be used for seafaring activities, educational activities, recreational activities, leisure, fishing and other resource extraction, transportation of cargo or passengers, and for conducting combat or salvage operations. Many of these activities involve different equipment and accessories, and thus users of watercraft often have the need to mount different equipment and accessories to the watercraft. However, conventional mounting systems generally require permanent holes be drilled through the hull or gunnel of the watercraft, and are often only designed for a specific type of equipment or a specific accessory. Such systems may result in permanent changes or damage to the watercraft that are undesirable.

Opportunities exist for improved ways to connect equipment and accessories to watercraft.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a gunnel mount for a watercraft. The gunnel mount includes a base portion configured to be detachably mounted to a gunnel of a watercraft, and a top portion extending from the base portion, the top portion configured to support at least one watercraft accessory or piece of equipment.

The base portion may include at least one adjustable clamp arm. The base portion may have a width that is greater than a width of the gunnel, and a plurality of fasteners that may releasably engage with one or more side surfaces or bottom surfaces of the gunnel. The base portion may include a first adjustable clamp arm and a second adjustable clamp arm. The first adjustable clamp arm may be actuatable in a first direction and the second adjustable clamp arm may be actuatable in a second direction, and the first direction may be substantially parallel to the second direction. The first adjustable clamp arm may be actuatable in a first direction and the second adjustable clamp arm may be actuatable in a second direction, and the first direction may be substantially perpendicular to the second direction. The first adjustable clamp may be configured to engage an underside of the gunnel of the watercraft, and the second adjustable clamp may be configured to engage a side surface of a hull of the watercraft. The base portion may include a transverse member configured to engage a top side of the gunnel. The transverse member may include a lower surface having a non-slip material. A width of the gunnel mount may be adjustable to fit different gunnel widths.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a gunnel mount for use with a gunnel of a watercraft. The gunnel mount includes a base portion configured to be mounted to a gunnel of a watercraft with one or more attachment members, and a top portion configured to be detachably coupled to the base portion. The top portion is configured to support at least one watercraft accessory or piece of equipment.

The gunnel mount may also include at least one fastener configured to detachably connect the top portion to the base portion. The at least one fastener may include a spring clamp. The spring clamp may include a head and a tip. The head may include a pivotable tension arm and the tip comprises a flange. The pivotable tension arm may be configured to engage an upper side of the top portion, and the flange may be configured to engage a lower side of the base portion. The at least one attachment member may include a first adjustable clamp arm actuatable in a first direction, and a second adjustable clamp arm actuatable in a second direction, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction. The first adjustable clamp may be configured to engage an underside of the gunnel of the watercraft, and the second adjustable clamp may be configured to engage a side surface of a hull of the watercraft. The base portion may include a transverse member configured to engage a top side of the gunnel, and the transverse member may include a slip-resistant or padding material. A width of the gunnel mount may be adjustable to fit different gunnel widths.

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of connecting a gunnel mount to a gunnel of a watercraft. The method includes positioning the gunnel mount on the gunnel with portions of the gunnel mount facing an inner surface, an outer surface, and a top surface of the gunnel, and operating at least one attachment member carried by the gunnel mount to engage at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the gunnel to releasably secure the gunnel mount to the gunnel. The gunnel mount is configured to releaseably mount at least one watercraft accessory or piece of equipment to the gunnel. Positioning the gunnel mount on the gunnel may include arranging a portion of the gunnel mount facing a downward facing surface of the gunnel, and operating the at least one attachment member includes engaging the downward facing surface of the gunnel.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of examples according to the disclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described hereinafter. The conception and specific examples disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Features which are believed to be characteristic of the concepts disclosed herein, both as to their organization and method of operation, together with associated advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. Each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only, and not as a definition of the limits of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the embodiments may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gunnel mount comprising a base portion and a top portion, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an example gunnel mount, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2B and 2C are perspective views of an example gunnel mount attached to a gunnel of a watercraft, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example gunnel mount having an adjustable width, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example gunnel mount with a top portion detached (not shown) from the base portion, in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of a top portion of an example gunnel mount detached from a base portion, in accordance with the present disclosure.

While the embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This description provides examples, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention. Rather, the ensuing description will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing embodiments of the invention. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements.

Thus, various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, it should be appreciated that the methods may be performed in an order different than that described, and that various steps may be added, omitted or combined. Also, aspects and elements described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. It should also be appreciated that the following systems, methods, and devices may individually or collectively be components of a larger system, wherein other procedures may take precedence over or otherwise modify their application.

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with this disclosure and the teachings herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation.

In various embodiments, and with reference to the accompanying figures, the present disclosure generally provides a gunnel mount configured to be attached to a gunnel of a watercraft. The gunnel of a watercraft is generally defined as a top portion of a hull of a watercraft. Watercraft accessories are often configured to be mounted to the gunnel. For example, users may want to attach downriggers, duck lines, oar locks, fish finders, rod holders, cup holders, etc., to the gunnel of their watercraft. Disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a gunnel mount that includes a base portion and a top portion. The base portion may be configured to be detachably mounted to the gunnel of a watercraft (e.g., see the description below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, and 2C). The top portion may be configured to be detachably coupled to the base portion (e.g., see the description below with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 5B).

In various embodiments, and initially with reference to FIG. 1, a gunnel mount 100 configured to be detachably affixed to a gunnel of a watercraft is provided. As mentioned above, the gunnel mount 100 may include a base portion 110 and a top portion 120. The base portion 110 may include structure for attaching (e.g., clamping) the gunnel mount 100 about or to the gunnel of a watercraft. The top portion 120 may extend from the base portion 110 and may include features and/or fasteners for supporting at least one watercraft accessory.

The base portion 110 of the gunnel mount 100 may include one or more adjustable clamp arms 112. The adjustable clamp arm(s) 112 may be actuatable to clamp the base portion 110 against the hull and/or gunnel of the watercraft. For example, the base portion 110 may include legs extending down opposing sides of the gunnel (e.g., inboard and outboard sides of the gunnel), with at least one adjustable clamp arm 112 configured to engage a first side (e.g., an inboard side) of the gunnel (or the hull of the watercraft just below the gunnel). In various embodiments, the base portion 110 includes two or more adjustable clamp arms 112. For example, a first adjustable clamp arm may extend from a first leg of the base portion 10 and a second adjustable clamp arm may extend from a second leg of the base portion. The legs may be disposed on opposing sides of the gunnel in order to affix the gunnel mount 100 to the watercraft, and thus the two adjustable clamp arms may be actuated in parallel directions.

In various embodiments, the adjustable clamp arm(s) are threaded bolts. The adjustable clamp arm(s) may be implemented with, for example, swivel feet, quick-release bolts (e.g. hex bolts), and/or cam devices. The surface of the adjustable clamp(s) configured to engage the gunnel or hull of the watercraft may include a non-slip material (e.g., rubber; also referred to as a high friction material) and/or padding material to facilitate secure engagement, prevent the gunnel mount from becoming inadvertently detached, and limit damage to the surface of the watercraft. The surface of the adjustable clamp(s) configured to engage the gunnel or hull of the watercraft may include a material or surface that limits scratching, abrasion, etc. so as to avoid damaging the surface of the watercraft to which the adjustable clamp(s) is mounted.

In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 2A, the gunnel mount 200 may include a first adjustable clamp arm 112 that is actuatable in a first direction, and a second adjustable clamp arm 212 that is actuatable in a second direction. The first direction may be substantially perpendicular to the second direction. That is, the first adjustable clamp arm 112 may engage a lateral side (e.g., a vertically oriented side) of the gunnel or the hull of the watercraft, and the second adjustable clamp arm 212 may engage an underside of the gunnel or generally downward facing surface of the watercraft. Accordingly, in various embodiments the base portion 210 of the gunnel mount 200 further includes a transverse member 214 configured to engage a top side of the gunnel opposite the second adjustable clamp arm 212. Thus, the gunnel may be clamped between the second adjustable clamp arm 212 and the transverse member 214. In various embodiments, a lower surface of the transverse member 214 includes a non-slip material. As shown in FIG. 2A, the first adjustable clamp arm 112 may be disposed below (e.g., vertically lower than) the section of the base portion 210 through which the second adjustable clamp arm 212 is threaded.

In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 2B and 2C, the gunnel mount 201 is shown attached to a gunnel 52 of a watercraft 50. In FIGS. 2B and 2C, the first arm 112 may be disposed above (e.g., vertically higher than) the section of the base portion 210 through which the second adjustable clamp arm 212 is threaded. As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the first adjustable clamp arm 112 may engage the inboard side of the gunnel 52 and the second adjustable clamp arm 213 may engage an underside (e.g., downward facing surface) of an outboard section of the gunnel 52.

In various embodiments, the gunnel mount may have an adjustable width to accommodate differently sized/designed gunnels, thereby allowing the gunnel mount to be utilized on different watercraft. For example, the base portion and/or the top portion may each include multiple panels that are coupled together in sliding engagement, thereby allowing expansion and retraction of the overall width/size of the gunnel mount. For example, and with reference to FIG. 3, the transverse section 314 of the base portion 310 may include panels that are juxtaposed and are configured to slide relative to each other to allow a user to change the width of the gunnel mount 300. In various embodiments, the top portion 320 may have a plurality of mounting features (e.g., pins, bolts, holes, channels, or slots; not shown in FIG. 3) to accommodate the expandable base portion 310. Further, sections of the base portion 310 from which the adjustable clamp members 312 extend may be similarly adjustable up and down, thereby allowing the user to change the depth of base portion 310 of the gunnel mount 300.

In various embodiments, the gunnel mount may have a top portion that is detachable from the base portion. That is, the top portion may be configured to be detachably coupled to the base portion. For example, FIG. 4 shows base portion 410 with a top portion removed (not shown).

In various embodiments, the base portion may be configured to be detachably coupled about the gunnel and the top portion may be detachably coupled to the base portion. In various embodiments, a base portion may be mounted to the gunnel of the watercraft (e.g., via bolts, clamp arms, adhesive, and/or welding, etc.) and different top portions, each configured to support a different type of watercraft accessory, may be attached to the base portion (e.g., see FIG. 5A). That is, the top portion 520 of the gunnel mount 500 may be exchanged based on the desired type of accessory the user wishes to mount to the gunnel (e.g., via base portion 510).

The gunnel mount may include at least one fastener that enables the detachable attachment between the base portion and the top portion. For example, and with reference to FIG. 5B, the at least one fastener 530 may include a spring clamp or other such feature that facilitates secure engagement between the base portion 510 and the top portion 520 while also enabling easy switching of the top portion 520. The fastener 530 (e.g., spring clamp) may include a head and a tip. The head may include a pivotable tension arm and the tip may include a flange. The pivotable tension arm is configured to engage an upper side of the top portion 520, and the flange is configured to engage a lower side of the base portion 510. In various embodiments, the fastener may be implemented with, for example, other bolts, sliding/locking mechanisms, cam clamp mechanisms, hinge structures, dovetail mechanisms, and/or magnetic coupling features, among others.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present systems and methods and their practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present systems and methods and various embodiments with various modifications as may be suited to the particular use contemplated.

Unless otherwise noted, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” In addition, for ease of use, the words “including” and “having,” as used in the specification and claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.” In addition, the term “based on” as used in the specification and the claims is to be construed as meaning “based at least upon.” 

What is claimed is:
 1. A gunnel mount comprising: a base portion configured to be detachably mounted to a gunnel of a watercraft; a top portion extending from the base portion, the top portion configured to support at least one watercraft accessory or piece of equipment.
 2. The gunnel mount of claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises at least one adjustable clamp arm.
 3. The gunnel mount of claim 1, wherein the base portion has a width that is greater than a width of the gunnel, and a plurality of fasteners that releasably engage with one or more side surfaces or bottom surfaces of the gunnel.
 4. The gunnel mount of claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises a first adjustable clamp arm and a second adjustable clamp arm.
 5. The gunnel mount of claim 4, wherein the first adjustable clamp arm is actuatable in a first direction and the second adjustable clamp arm is actuatable in a second direction, and the first direction is substantially parallel to the second direction.
 6. The gunnel mount of claim 4, wherein the first adjustable clamp arm is actuatable in a first direction and the second adjustable clamp arm is actuatable in a second direction, and the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.
 7. The gunnel mount of claim 6, wherein the first adjustable clamp is configured to engage an underside of the gunnel of the watercraft and the second adjustable clamp is configured to engage a side surface of a hull of the watercraft.
 8. The gunnel mount of claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises a transverse member configured to engage a top side of the gunnel.
 9. The gunnel mount of claim 8, wherein the transverse member comprises a lower surface comprising a non-slip material.
 10. The gunnel mount of claim 1, wherein a width of the of the gunnel mount is adjustable to fit different gunnel widths.
 11. A gunnel mount comprising: a base portion configured to be mounted to a gunnel of a watercraft with one or more attachment members; a top portion configured to be detachably coupled to the base portion, the top portion configured to support at least one watercraft accessory or piece of equipment.
 12. The gunnel mount of claim 11, wherein the gunnel mount further comprises at least one fastener configured to detachably connect the top portion to the base portion.
 13. The gunnel mount of claim 12, wherein the at least one fastener comprises a spring clamp.
 14. The gunnel mount of claim 13, wherein the spring clamp comprises a head and a tip, wherein the head comprises a pivotable tension arm and the tip comprises a flange, wherein the pivotable tension arm is configured to engage an upper side of the top portion and the flange is configured to engage a lower side of the base portion.
 15. The gunnel mount of claim 11, wherein the at least one attachment member includes a first adjustable clamp arm actuatable in a first direction, and a second adjustable clamp arm actuatable in a second direction, the first direction being substantially perpendicular to the second direction.
 16. The gunnel mount of claim 15, wherein the first adjustable clamp is configured to engage an underside of the gunnel of the watercraft and the second adjustable clamp is configured to engage a side surface of a hull of the watercraft.
 17. The gunnel mount of claim 11, wherein the base portion comprises a transverse member configured to engage a top side of the gunnel, the transverse member comprising a slip-resistant or padding material.
 18. The gunnel mount of claim 11, wherein a width of the of the gunnel mount is adjustable to fit different gunnel widths.
 19. A method of connecting a gunnel mount to a gunnel of a watercraft, the method comprising: positioning the gunnel mount on the gunnel with portions of the gunnel mount facing an inner surface, an outer surface, and a top surface of the gunnel; operating at least one attachment member carried by the gunnel mount to engage at least one of the inner and outer surfaces of the gunnel to releasably secure the gunnel mount to the gunnel, the gunnel mount being configured to releaseably mount at least one watercraft accessory or piece of equipment to the gunnel.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein positioning the gunnel mount on the gunnel include arranging a portion of the gunnel mount facing a downward facing surface of the gunnel, and operating the at least one attachment member includes engaging the downward facing surface of the gunnel. 